The multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) selection project has been delayed for a decade with the MIG-29 aircraft having been retired from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) inventory without a replacement aircraft. The previously announced purchase of Boeing F/A-18D Hornet aircraft from Kuwait was postponed in February this year due to the age of the aircraft and the uncertain delivery time as Kuwait itself experienced delays in receiving replacement Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft.
Yesterday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the process of evaluating the new MRCA aircraft would only begin in the 2030s. This is because at that time the F/A-18D Hornet and Sukhoi Su-30MKM Flanker-H will be retired by 2035.
Malaysia will receive 18 KAI T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft in stages starting later this year to replace the obsolete BAE Hawk combat training aircraft. The Hawk entered the RMAF inventory in April 1994. The process of replacing the Hawk is being carried out under the Fighter Trainer/Light Combat Aircraft (FLIT-LCA) program.
The country has previously been invited to participate in the TAI-KAAN program by Turkiye and South Korea's KAI KF-21 Boramae. Both aircraft are still new and have not been tested in modern combat.
Last year, the Ministry of Defence said it was considering purchasing fifth-generation fighter aircraft from France, the United States and Russia under the MRCA program. This means that the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and Sukhoi SU-57 Felon meet the criteria set by the ministry of defence.
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is still in the design stage and only exists in the form of mock-ups. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is difficult to buy because the United States has set various conditions such as not being able to use Chinese telecommunications equipment. Finally, the Sukhoi Su-57 Felon would cause diplomatic problems if purchased by Malaysia because Russia is subject to economic sanctions by the United States.
